Staff Reporter :
At least seven photojournalists were injured when activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League, student front of ruling Awami League, allegedly swooped on them at Science Laboratory intersection in Dhaka around 2.00 pm on Sunday.
The injured were identified as AM Ahad of International News Agency, the Associated Press (AP), Zawad of the Daily Janakantha, Palash of the Banik Barta, Rimon of US-based Zuma Press, Sharif of the Dainik Naya Diganta, Freelancer Rahat and Enamul Hasan, a photography student of Pathsala South Asian Media institute.
The BCL men, equipped with iron roads and sticks, chased nearly 50 journalists in front of Science Lab around 2:00pm when they were taking pictures of the student protest.
The incident took place in front of the law enforcers, who did not play any role to stop the BCL men, witnesses said.
Quoting witnesses, UNB adds: AH Ahad was beaten mercilessly and his mobile phone and camera were broken at Jhigatola. Doctors of a nearby hospital said, he had received serious injuries in his head that needed stitches.
Earlier on the day, students of Dhaka University, Dhaka Medical College and Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) gathered at Shahbagh intersection around 11am and blocked the road, disrupting the vehicular movement.
Later, they brought out a rally which marched towards the Science Laboratory intersection.
When they reached the Science Laboratory intersection, police lobbed teargas canisters to disperse them. A chase and counter-chase took place at that time.
Meanwhile, a group of youths swooped on the protesting students. As the photojournalists were taking pictures of the attack, the youths attacked them.
Yesterday, police and alleged BCL men beat up three journalists of The Daily Star and molested another in Jhigatola.
